Is All Knowledge Good?
Is All Knowledge Good?
Matthew J Greer
BYU-Idaho
Is All Knowledge Good? “…I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give” (Mosiah 4:24). Throughout my entire childhood and even into the teenage years I always wondered why my father was going out of his way to help other people within the ward at church, the community we lived in, or just anyone in general. Finally, when I was 17 years old, I was able to understand why he did what he does. At a high school cross country meet I was running my normal 5k race when I came upon an injured athlete named Abraham who was sitting on the side of the course. All my other opponents were ignoring him and running by to finish their races. I had the distinct impression within myself that I was to stop and help this young man. Abraham was 13 years old, a freshman in high school, in a lot of pain, and extremely scared. I asked what was wrong and he informed me he stepped on a large rock to take a short cut on the race course, slipped and fell down the ledge. Through my first aid training and the training I received in the Boy Scouts I was able to assess the damage done to his ankle and perform the needed care to comfort him until I was able to help him to the first aid hut approximately a mile away on the course. The feeling of worth and love I got from helping this young man with the knowledge I had was, I believe, partly why I was blessed with learning what I knew. All knowledge is good so long as it is used in a manner that is pleasing to God and is acquired with a love of learning. From a young age I was blessed with academic success. I can attribute this to two things; a mother who was relentless and always following up with the homework assignments from my other instructors, and being blessed with a love of learning. President David Bednar in his 2008 talk addressed to BYU entitled “Learning to Love Learning” (2008/2013) explained “Learning to love learning is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ, is
Matthew J Greer
BYU-Idaho
Is All Knowledge Good? “…I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give” (Mosiah 4:24). Throughout my entire childhood and even into the teenage years I always wondered why my father was going out of his way to help other people within the ward at church, the community we lived in, or just anyone in general. Finally, when I was 17 years old, I was able to understand why he did what he does. At a high school cross country meet I was running my normal 5k race when I came upon an injured athlete named Abraham who was sitting on the side of the course. All my other opponents were ignoring him and running by to finish their races. I had the distinct impression within myself that I was to stop and help this young man. Abraham was 13 years old, a freshman in high school, in a lot of pain, and extremely scared. I asked what was wrong and he informed me he stepped on a large rock to take a short cut on the race course, slipped and fell down the ledge. Through my first aid training and the training I received in the Boy Scouts I was able to assess the damage done to his ankle and perform the needed care to comfort him until I was able to help him to the first aid hut approximately a mile away on the course. The feeling of worth and love I got from helping this young man with the knowledge I had was, I believe, partly why I was blessed with learning what I knew. All knowledge is good so long as it is used in a manner that is pleasing to God and is acquired with a love of learning. From a young age I was blessed with academic success. I can attribute this to two things; a mother who was relentless and always following up with the homework assignments from my other instructors, and being blessed with a love of learning. President David Bednar in his 2008 talk addressed to BYU entitled “Learning to Love Learning” (2008/2013) explained “Learning to love learning is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ, is
References: Bednar, D. A. (2008/2013. Learning to love learning. In R. Seamons (Ed.), The way of wisdom (pp. 49-53). Rexburg, ID: BYU-Idaho. Retrieved from http://ilearn.byui.edu Hartvigsen, M. K. (2001/2013). Learning, our theology. In R. Seamons (Ed.), The way of wisdom (pp.124-131). Rexburg, ID: BYU-Idaho. Retrieved from http://ilearn.byui.edu McCullough, D. (2008/2013). The love of learning: address to the graduates. In R. Seamons (Ed.), The way of wisdom (pp. 333-336). Rexburg, ID: BYU-Idaho. Retrieved from http://ilearn.byui.edu